title: The utility of anoscopy in the rapid diagnosis of symptomatic anorectal gonorrhea in men.
abstract: Thirty-nine homosexual men seeking treatment for symptomatic proctitis were examined for anorectal gonorrhea by study of gram-stained smears obtained via an anoscope and by a blindly obtained anorectal swab specimen. Anorectal specimens for culture were obtained from all men. The sensitivity of the anoscopically obtained smears was 79% as compared with 53% for the blindly obtained smears. It was concluded that gram-stained smears obtained through an anoscope can provide rapid diagnosis of most cases of symptomatic anorectal gonorrhea. All patients with symptomatic proctitis should have routine anoscopy and examination of gram-stained smears obtained via anoscopy as part of their diagnostic evaluation.
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000382:microbiology; D004724:Endoscopy; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011349:Proctitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology